Hells Canyon loop, Oregon- Suggestions

paulj wrote:
Close to the river the land may be BLM, but upper forested areas will be Forest Service.

What loop were you thinking of? One stays in Oregon, looping around the Wallowa Mtns. There is a paved, but curvy Forest Service road around the east side of the range, paralleling the river. It has a paved view point or two, but closer access requires using unpaved roads.

Looping around the canyon requires crossing into Idaho (Oxbow crossing), and back at Lewiston in the north. There is BLM camping along US95 where is follows the lower Salmon River.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Pauli’s info is very complete. If you are coming from Baker City consider staying at Wallowa Lake SP near Joseph, OR. This SP is a portal to both the Wallowa Mts. and also to Hells Canyon overlooks in and around Imnaha. From there north OR-3/WA-129 gets you to Clarkston/Lewiston. Hells Gate SP in Lewiston is an excellent park and location for exploring the Wa/ID Snake River boundary. This is all remote, beautiful territory, especially crossing the Grand Ronde gorge on WA-129. Also gets you over on the Idaho side for countinuing your Loop south. I have not been into that Idaho area yet so I can’t help you there.

stop at the oregon trail interpretive center just out side of baker city. it is well worth the stop

Close to the river the land may be BLM, but upper forested areas will be Forest Service.

What loop were you thinking of? One stays in Oregon, looping around the Wallowa Mtns. There is a paved, but curvy Forest Service road around the east side of the range, paralleling the river. It has a paved view point or two, but closer access requires using unpaved roads.

Looping around the canyon requires crossing into Idaho (Oxbow crossing), and back at Lewiston in the north. There is BLM camping along US95 where is follows the lower Salmon River.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

There is some BLM and some NFS. There is some campgrounds near the Snake River Dams
Are you going to the Lewiston lower Canyon or the upper canyon?

This site shows many government style campgrounds.
US campgrounds